Columns

Exploring possible causes of my chronic pain outside of hypopara

As January creeps along, I’m back to work, balancing publishing and column deadlines, and myriad doctor appointments. Taking time off and adjusting my holiday schedule to give myself more breathing room turned out to be a great gift. I managed to crawl out of a vicious seven-week pain cycle,…

Reflecting on the qualities of a good friend in life with chronic illness

“Friends don’t owe! They do because they wanna do.” — Rocky Balboa in “Rocky III” Friendships, much like hypoparathyroidism, are not one-size-fits-all. I appreciate my small, close-knit circle of friends. When I was younger, my mom would tell me, “All you need is one good friend.” Back then, I…

Reflections on gratitude and hope for the new year

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” — Charles Dickens in “A Tale of Two Cities” Describing my year as both the best and worst of times may seem contradictory, but it truly reflects my experience. Similar to the theme in Charles Dickens’ classic novel,…

Rethinking my holiday plans with hypopara limitations in mind

Navigating the holidays with hypoparathyroidism is a lesson in conserving energy, pacing myself, and continuously reevaluating my calendar. It is the season of visits with loved ones, holiday parties, deadlines, and extra nasty communicable viruses — which is why I’m always masked. To keep pushing through the end-of-year sprint,…

Hypopara’s unpredictability causes surprises during treatment

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide) injections. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. I have a group of friends who are convinced I’m clairvoyant. When I reply that it’s just my anxiety, they…

Reflecting on my experience in a clinical trial during the pandemic

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with TransCon PTH, now called Yorvipath (palopegteriparatide). Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. “Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and…

With hypopara, curiosity about worsening symptoms is crucial

Earlier this year, I experienced significant shoulder pain. I blamed it on my hypoparathyroidism, assuming it was from a muscle spasm, one of my frequent symptoms. Instead, the pain turned out to be from a pinched nerve beneath my shoulder blade. While my disease was a contributing factor, it…

I feel grateful to be surrounded by love on Thanksgiving

“What if today, we were just grateful for everything?” — Charlie Brown Life with hypoparathyroidism is a journey marked by uncertainty, where we can swiftly shift from elated to exhausted. Yet I navigate it with unwavering resilience and determination, my constant companions. It’s hard to make plans, work,…

With hypopara, the good days are won one yard at a time

“And isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?” — “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette With hypoparathyroidism, every good day is a triumph over bad days. But that doesn’t mean the good days come easy. I spent a recent day with a friend in New York watching the San Francisco 49ers…